Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

broke_with_student_kids

My daughter is at Brighton Uni and was using the megabus from Chester to Victoria and then the megabus to Brighton and it was very cheap. For some reason they have cancelled all buses to and from Brighton?! Ive just looked for the 'cheap' virgin train tickets but they dont see to apply to Fridays. I dont mind if its got to be manchester (27 miles away) I'll drive there, if it means she's closer and the fares (train or bus) are cheap. Anyone help?

John89001

broke_with_student_kids wrote: »

megabus to Brighton ... was very cheap. For some reason they have cancelled all buses to and from Brighton?! ... Anyone help?

Southern offer Advance single train fares from Victoria to Brighton from £3.
http://www.southernrailway.com/main.php?page_id=499

John

Gray-Fox

I'm wishing to travel from London to Nottingham on the 21st February. However, when I search using trainline.com or eastmidlandstrains.com, the really cheap tickets are non-existent.

Am I right in thinking the cheapest advance tickets only start appearing a week before date of travel?

dalianatkinson

I want to travel from Edinburgh to London on the 26th feb, departing at around 9:00 and returning at around 18:00. National Express East Coast said the cheapest i could do it was £110 (for a return with a 16-25 railcard). 2 singles with them worked out more.

I checked with Virgin and with them, via Wolverhampton it's £78.50 return. Is this the best I'll do? As a penniless student it seems like a lot. Does anyone know of any split fares for this route, or if the cheaper tickets will be released nearer the time?

Thanks in advance.

dzug1

Gray-Fox wrote: »

I'm wishing to travel from London to Nottingham on the 21st February. However, when I search using trainline.com or eastmidlandstrains.com, the really cheap tickets are non-existent.

Am I right in thinking the cheapest advance tickets only start appearing a week before date of travel?

No - they disappear soon after release 12 weeks (in theory - more often rather less) prior to departure

For your date megatrain still have £12.50 tickets.

Gray-Fox

dzug1 wrote: »

No - they disappear soon after release 12 weeks (in theory - more often rather less) prior to departure

For your date megatrain still have £12.50 tickets.

How can this be right though? I've bought discounted tickets for this journey the day before???

Gray-Fox

It's ok.

The discounted fares are showing on Virgin and East Midlands trains now.

EDIT: Just ended up getting a single from nottingham to london on a monday mid morning for £6.60!!! It was an internet advance.

I've never ever had one that cheap before.

NB: I have a 16-25 railcard and I am travelling off-peak.

gner_ex

ruthiejane wrote: »

No! You must make the journey specified on the ticket. If there are ticket barriers at Leicester you would not be allowed through with a ticket valid from Loughborough.

Unless it is a ticket valid for break of journey.

gner_ex

dalianatkinson wrote: »

I want to travel from Edinburgh to London on the 26th feb, departing at around 9:00 and returning at around 18:00. National Express East Coast said the cheapest i could do it was £110 (for a return with a 16-25 railcard). 2 singles with them worked out more.

I checked with Virgin and with them, via Wolverhampton it's £78.50 return. Is this the best I'll do? As a penniless student it seems like a lot. Does anyone know of any split fares for this route, or if the cheaper tickets will be released nearer the time?

Thanks in advance.

If you can delay a little bit, there is an off-peak return priced at £71.80 (with 16-25 railcard). This is valid via either route, restrictions being any train due to arrive london 11:17 or later, and departing London between 09:29 and 14:57 or after 18:59. Also check the 16-25 railcard restrictions in case they contradict this - I'm a little out of touch with these since they changed.

If you want a bit of flexibility, then this is your best bet.

You could look for advance fares, both for the whole journey, and perhaps splitting at York.

gner_ex

broke_with_student_kids wrote: »

My daughter is at Brighton Uni and was using the megabus from Chester to Victoria and then the megabus to Brighton and it was very cheap. For some reason they have cancelled all buses to and from Brighton?! Ive just looked for the 'cheap' virgin train tickets but they dont see to apply to Fridays. I dont mind if its got to be manchester (27 miles away) I'll drive there, if it means she's closer and the fares (train or bus) are cheap. Anyone help?

A saver return from Chester to Brighton is £55.45 with 16-25 railcard - this is valid any route, off peak times (and includes the cross-London transfer). The cheapest advance fare in the system is £7.60 single - but you'll be lucky to find these I suspect. Try looking for a Thursday instead - Friday is the day everyone has off work in order to do a long weekend somewhere.